Mummy

Sunday, November 12th, 2000 is a day I will never forget. The lady who gave me life had finished her earthly journey and the Good Shepherd called her to receive her eternal reward. Mum’s passing was totally unexpected as she had just turned 65 less than a month before. When the ominous phone call came, I had thoroughly believed that it was Dad’s time since he had the Parkinson’s and other ailments. Nope, God had other plans.

Dad shared with us that Mum knew that her time was near ~ she had grown weary caring for Dad. She basically asked him if it ‘was ok if I go first’ because she was couldn’t take the strain. Dad said that her passing was an answer to his prayer: ‘that he wouldn’t become a burden for her.’ My parents were married for 48.5 years so they understood each other. A bit of background information: my parents were living in the Caribbean, first on the island of Montserrat until the volcano chased them to Anguilla. Life is the polar opposite of the USA and medical care is hard to come by on a fixed income. Why were they there? Without going into long detail, Dad was doing the Lord’s work as an ordained deacon in the Catholic Church.

Mummy always wanted me to be the best person I could be. Who I am as a person today was because of the high expectations she set for me. She believed in a well rounded education for her children – she instilled in me a love of classical music, the arts, but most of all and intense desire to read. My childhood curiosity for books turned into a master’s degree in reading.

“Death comes like a thief in the night” and I regret not having the opportunity to say goodbye to my Mum. Her favourite phrase to end a letter or phone call was ‘Kiss the gal in the mirror for me’ ~ how I wish I could give her a hug and kiss!

Thanks for being my Mum ~ I love and miss you!


~butterfly angel~